Thomas Heatherwick’s Sculptural Windows Going Up at 515 West 18th Street, in Chelsea

The first sculptural glass panels on Thomas Heatherwick’s premiere residential project at 515 West 18th Street are starting to be installed. The glass and metal frames are rising on the western elevation of the shorter ten-story building, which has topped out along Tenth Avenue. Heatherwick’s pair of architecturally matching structures straddle the High Line and will be an interesting addition to the Chelsea neighborhood. The taller half of the complex is rising on the western edge of the elevated park and will soon stand 22 stories high. The site is being developed by Related Companies.

Both towers at the site with the 22-story building still rising. Photo by Michael Young

The 10-story building at the complex is topped out and has the first set of windows on the second story along Tenth Avenue. Photo by Michael Young

Photos alongside Tenth Avenue show the second floor beginning to give a glimpse at the size and scale of each convex, floor-to-ceiling panels.

The second story with the first batch of panels installed and sheathed with temporary protective film. Photo by Michael Young

A wider shot of the panels. Photo by Michael Young

A head-on view of two different size windows. Photo by Michael T. Young

The best angle to see the bubbling grid of windows is from the corners, where the degree to which they protrude from the gray-colored brick façade is more apparent. This design will also make the building appear much bolder and more voluminous in terms of its aesthetics and proportions with the structural columns and floor slabs.

The 22-story tower going up on the west side of the property. Photo by Michael Young

The 22-story counterpart should top off sometime by the end of spring or early summer. Construction only began to rise above street level back in early December and quickly shot up in four months. There will be a total of 181 units at 515 West 18th Street, with amenities including a fitness center and spa, an entertainment room, residential lounges, and parking for 175 vehicles. There will also be landscaped outdoor rooftop terraces on both towers that overlook Chelsea, the Hudson River, and the second phase of the High Line.

Completion of 515 West 18th Street should happen sometime next year.

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While there’s a ton of lousy architecture going up these days I have to say that the High Line corridor is a nice exception. It’s become a showcase of interesting ideas that fit the scale and location beautifully. This is a reminder that relatively low-rise properties can and should aim higher. We need more corridors like this, far more than we need endless whining about subsidized housing.

I guess foreign architects aren’t aware that sloping glass or metal walls in NYC are a design 101 no no. The cleaning maintenance costs for this building are going to be horrific. Water carried dirt stains after 2 months. Take a look at KPF’s monstrosity, Baruch College in Kipps Bay.